Retired Healthcare Workers Should NOT Pay a Fee for a Volunteer License

March 14, 2025

ISMS member and State Rep. William Hauter, M.D. has introduced House Bill 1270, which would allow retired healthcare professionals to change their existing active medical license to a volunteer license via an application process with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

To qualify for a volunteer license, healthcare professionals cannot be compensated for their work; must keep up with continuing medical education requirements; and must currently have an active license, free of any pending disciplinary action. Most important, volunteer licenses do not require the payment of a fee.

The current three-year fee for an active medical license is $543. A “free” license would begin once the healthcare professional renews under a “volunteer” status.

For example, if a physician pays $543 to renew in 2026 and then requests to move to a volunteer status in 2027, IDFPR would not issue a refund. But when the physician renews in 2029 for a volunteer license, there would be no renewal fee.

Ten years ago in Illinois, Public Act 98-659 took effect to issue volunteer licenses at no cost – subject to IDFPR rulemaking. However, the Act was never implemented. House Bill 1270 is supported by IDFPR because the process would be less complicated than the previous legislation for healthcare professionals to move from an active license to volunteer status.

House Bill 1270 passed the House’s Health Care Licenses Committee unanimously and is currently on the House floor for further consideration.